Knife block with sharpening stones

ABSTRACT

A knife block with built-in sharpening stones provides a physical structure and appearance which has become conventional for such items, but each knife slot contains a built-in sharpening stone. The stone is set at a slight angle to the side of the slot, such that any knife which is inserted or withdrawn from the slot will be sharpened by the stone.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/980608, filed Apr. 17, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to cooking utensils and accessories, and in particular to a knife block with built-in sharpening stones. A good set of kitchen knives is essential to anyone who is serious about cooking. Unfortunately, the knives become dull with use and require sharpening. This is a time-consuming chore which requires a degree of skill, dexterity, and physical strength. Most cooks would prefer to spend their time and invest their training in the art of cooking. A knife block with built-in sharpening stones, which sharpens the knife blade each time it removed or inserted into its slot, would resolve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a knife block with built-in sharpening stones. The block provides a physical structure and appearance which has become conventional for such items, but each knife slot contains a built-in sharpening stone. The stone is set at a slight angle to the side of the slot, such that any knife which is inserted or withdrawn from the slot will be sharpened by the stone.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the block 10, the slots 11, a stone 11A, the support 12, the logo 13, and the grooves 14.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment with knives inserted, displaying the block 10, the slots 11, a stone 11A, the support 12, the logo 13, the grooves 14, and the knives 15.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the block 10, the support 12, and the logo 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a knife block 10 with built-in sharpening stones 11A. The block 10 provides a physical structure and appearance which has become conventional for such items, but each knife slot 11 contains a built-in sharpening stone 11A. The stone 11A is set at a slight angle to the side of the slot 11, such that any knife 15 which is inserted or withdrawn from the slot 11 will be sharpened by the stone 11A.

The first exemplary embodiment provides a knife block 10, which is preferably manufactured from wood. The front, top, and rear surfaces are all 45° from vertical. The side surfaces are vertical, and the bottom surface is horizontal. The top surface is shaped to provide a plurality of knife slots 11, each of which provides an internal sharpening stone 11A, set at the perfect angle of 11° relative to the slot for sharpening a knife blade.

A support 12 is affixed to the block 10 and descends down therefrom. The front surface of the support 12 may provide a company logo 13 and decorative grooves 14, or other ornamental features. The block 10 may be available with a set of knives 15, available separately for use with knives 15 provided by the user, or both.

To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user inserts a knife 15 into a slot 11 which is large enough to hold it. The stone 11A sharpens the knife 15 as it is inserted. When the knife 15 is withdrawn from the slot 11 to be used, the stone 11A sharpens it again. Separate sharpening stones 11A are provided to specifically sharpen either smooth or serrated-edge knives. The sharpening stones 11A for each specific knife 15, containing a smooth or serrated edge may be found in specific slots 11 of the block 10 which correspond to the edge each knife 15.

The knife block 10 is preferably manufactured from a rigid, durable material such as wood. The sharpening stones 11A are preferably manufactured from a rigid, durable material containing particulate matter of a nature and consistency which is appropriate for sharpening a steel knife blade, such as a bonded abrasive composed of a ceramic such as silicon carbide or aluminum oxide.

Distances, weights, component sizes and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that greater or lesser distances, greater or lesser weights, larger or smaller components, or different materials, could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A knife block with sharpening stones comprising a block; said block being shaped so as to provide a plurality of knife slots; each of said knife slots having affixed therein sharpening stone; and said sharpening stone being set at an angle.
 2. The knife block with sharpening stones of claim 1 wherein said angle is 11° relative to said slot.
 3. The knife block with sharpening stones of claim 1 wherein said block is set at 45° relative to vertical, and further comprising a support; said support being affixed to and descending down from said block.
 4. The knife block with sharpening stones of claim 3 wherein said angle is 11° relative to said slot.
 5. The knife block with sharpening stones of claim 1 wherein each said sharpening stone is configured specifically for either of the group of smooth knives or serrated knives.
 6. The knife block with sharpening stones of claim 2 wherein each said sharpening stone is configured specifically for either of the group of smooth knives or serrated knives.
 7. The knife block with sharpening stones of claim 3 wherein each said sharpening stone is configured specifically for either of the group of smooth knives or serrated knives.
 8. The knife block with sharpening stones of claim 4 wherein each said sharpening stone is configured specifically for either of the group of smooth knives or serrated knives. 